Gomphotheres include a group of proboscideans (trunk bearing) mammals and are probably the most successful of all the proboscideans. The size of this animal is in question, but the general consensus is that their average height was 6-7 feet, but some reaching ten feet in height. Almost all gomphotheres had tusks in both upper and lower jaws. Gomphotheres are believed to have appeared during the Miocene Period to the end of the Pleistocene Period, or about 20 million years to 1 million years ago!

Here's a prime example of a gomphothere skeleton. This specimen was found southwest of Red Cloud, Nebraska, on the Gary Meyers farm, in the lower 1970's(?). This display is from the collection of the Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska.

This is a close-up of the "eat'in end" of the Red Cloud gomphothere.

Another close-up of the Red Cloud fossil, this time showing the details of the pelvis area.

Judging from the size of the humerus of the Smith County find, I believe this gomphothere was close to the upper limit in height, nearly 10 feet.

This site contains 73 pictures at the present time, but more will be added as I do more excavating at the site.

There are at least two gomphotheres at the site, and maybe more. So far, I've found two mandibles, and two posterior partial skulls (occipital condyles), which would indicate at least two are present at the dig.

Numerous other large bones have been found and will be shown and explained on the following pages.

This is an on going dig and will resume in the spring of 2006, weather permitting.

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© 2006 Bob Levin

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Levin Fossil Collection
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